May 5, 2026 - School/Special District Election

The Elections Office administers school and special district elections annually. This is a mail-only election and polling places will not be open. Click here for Mail Ballot Plans.

School district trustees are elected for a term of three years or the remainder of vacant terms. The board of trustees authorizes additional taxation, the issuance of bonds or any other proposition presented to voters in accordance with the law. Note that some school districts cross county boundaries. Click here for the Office of Public Instruction’s detailed school district election calendar.

Special district trustees are elected board members who serve residents of a specific tax district, such as fire, public hospital, water, sewer, irrigation or conservation districts listed on a property owner’s tax bill. They are only elected to full terms. These districts operate in accordance with state laws. Other ballot initiatives could potentially be on the ballot.

This will be an all-mail election and polling places will not be open. It is possible that not all residents will receive a ballot or be eligible to vote in this election. This will depend on where a voter lives and whether there will be elections in their specific jurisdictions. Click here for the Secretary of State’s detailed special district election calendar.

June 2, 2026 - Federal Primary Election

A federal primary election is held every even-numbered year on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June. Primary federal elections are preliminary elections to select the candidates who will advance onto the general federal election in November. Presidential elections are combined with the congressional, statewide, state district and county elections. Ballots will mail to absentee voters and polling places will be open.

Montana state law does not require voters to designate their party affiliation when registering to vote, so all voters will receive ballots for each party running a primary election. Voters choose only one ballot to vote. Ballots will mail to absentee voters and polling places will be open.

November 3, 2026 - Federal General Election

A federal general election is held every even-numbered year on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Ballots will mail to absentee voters and polling places will be open. Click here for the Secretary of State’s detailed federal election calendar.

The 2025 legislature passed House Bill 719, which requires voters to write their year of birth on the affirmation envelope in addition to their signature. This bill went into effect on Oct. 1, 2025. A ballot will be rejected if it does not include both a signature and birth year.

Return Postage

Missoula County offers pre-paid postage on all mail ballots.